Jane Rutherford is buyer and co-owner of exclusive, family-owned department store, Rutherfords of Morpeth. Here she advises on giving your home a spring makeover

Jane Rutherford sources and buys furnishings for the Rutherfords renowned homewear department from all over the world, attending exhibitions and visiting showrooms all over Britain, Paris and Milan.

Her own home has been featured in national lifestyle and house magazines and reflects the style of Rutherfords homewear department.So how would she advise getting ready for spring, when the sun is trying its best to bring a change in the seasons?

She says: There is no point decorating first. Be ruthless and I mean ruthless. Deep clean the house, windows, paintwork, upholstery and get ready for an injection of sunshine.

This is good for your soul and will make you feel instantly better. Now start on the clutter. Take it to a friend, a charity shop or the local tip. If you dont use it, get rid of it. If you find this difficult, put whatever it is in a bag or box in the garage - I can almost guarantee you will never look at it again, and, if you do, suddenly it will have lost its appeal and then take it to the tip.

Jane says its easy to change your decor without spending a fortune. Your best friend is a paint brush and a pot of paint. If you can, use good quality paint. Farrow & Ball and The Little Green Paint Company create soft dense colour.

She advises using a calming palette of colours throughout the house - pale greys, soft whites, creams or powdery blues. Then add in your statement colours - perhaps a single wall colour and accessories such as cushions, rugs, flowers and throws.

Pull the scheme together. Once you have created your shell of colour - your house will look more spacious and calming as one room leads on to another.

Touches of luxury add interest and character to your home

Tone your carpets or flooring, says Jane. And dont feel that you have to paint doors, window frames and skirting boards in white. Use a toning shade, perhaps a few shades lighter than your wall colour, always using eggshell.

Once your room is ready to dress start to pull the room together with cushions, flowers, throws or a rug in a contrasting or a toning colour. A huge display of seasonal flowers immediately says spring.

Make sure you dont have too many small pieces in the room - go for impact pieces like a huge mirror or painting as this will create drama.

Jane says instead of using black, use dark grey, brown or aubergine.They are as dramatic as black but more current. Soften this look with textured fabrics or a chandelier. In bathrooms add new towels or a fabulously expensive bar of soap to fragrance the room.

Jane says she is against rules. Some of the best houses throw everything in together and it works. However, if you find interior design daunting, a good tip is to buy you favourite interior magazines, look for look that inspires you and copy it.

Jane is shortly off again buying for Rutherfords, and says she will be going for old rose, chalky lilac, greys, silver and creams, adding luxury vintage, silks and satins. Perhaps a hand crafted throw here and there and really textured linen.

In a bedroom make sure the bed has pristine linen on it. Add your cushions and a throw at the bottom of the bed. Throw a cushion on to a chair in your accent colour building on your theme.

However, Jane says, always remember that this is your home. Dont let anyone dictate to you. After all, any colour can look good (apart from hideous orange, purple and lime green). Rutherfords of Morpeth 01670 512458 www.rutherfordsofmorpeth.co.uk